Box-collapsing machine



se p 8.1925.

R, J. GRUENBERG- Box Conursms'mcnmz Jan. 2, 1923 am ran l6 /6M1 fi m Sept. 8, 1925. 1,552,695

R. J. GRUENBERG BOX COLLAPSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2 1923. 3 Shuts-Shoot 2' Sept. 8, 1925. 1,552,695

R. J. GRUENBERG BOX COLLAPSING MACHINE Fil -diam z, 1923 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 iffy-den Keg-y. I

V those skilled in the art to construct and use I Patented Sept. 8, 1925 RAOUL J. GRUENB'ERG, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA I BOX-.GOLLAPSING MACHINE.

Application filed January 2 1923. Serial ijio. 310,406.

To all whom it may concern: j

, Be it known that I, RA UL J. GnUnNBnne, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county'of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and .useful Box-Collapsing Machine, of which the following is a specification in such full and clear. terms. as will enable the same.

This invention relates to a box collapsing machine, and its object is .to provide means whereby certain types of folding boxes may be completely collapsed and flattened for shipment. f

It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that egg boxes andcertain other types of boxes aredelivered in considerable quantities from the machine which sets them up and glues them. These boxes must then be collapsed along the creasing lines formed on them flattened and .then placed in bundles for. shipment, and since. such boxes are sold Very cheaprthe work mustbe accomplished by an automatic machine capable of running about 80 boxes per minute to keep lip with 'the gluing machine.

Another object of the invention is to produce a machine which will be capable of taking different sizes of boxes, the smallest size being known as the 3 by 4 and the largest as the 2 by 6, although both sizes hold one dozen eggs. I i

Another object of the invention isto; provide a simpler construction of the folding in whichthe box will not be pressed-against a stopplate and detained during ,the period of folding, but in which the box will be continuously moving through the collapsing apparatus, thereby increasing the capacity I of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the appear same reference numeral is applied to the same portion throughout, but I am aware that there may bemodifications thereof. 7

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the complete machine,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one of the angles for holding the belt supporting floor, Fig. 2 a sideelevation of-the complete machine, i

two longitudinal bars -5 and 6, cross bars 7 and '8.

angle p Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine looking from the left, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 isanendelevation of a.) complete machine looking from the right, Fig. 1, v Fig. 5is a View of the folding plates on a larger scale than the other-figures, to show the method of adjustment thereof, the supporting belts being shown in section, and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a modified form of the invention in which there is amechanism to turn theboxes to theproper folding position, said turning dev ce being necessary on some forms of setting up machines.

The frame of the machine comprises four vertical posts 1 to 4 inclusive, connected by and by two Connecting the ,two cross bars 7 and 8 are two flat supportingboards 9 and 10 for the two belts 11 and 12. These two boards form the floor for the two belts torun over and they are held in place by four cast iron I ates 713,;t'w0 of which on the board 10 are shown in F igure -2.- These angles havetwo holes 14, 15 toreceive two bolts 16 which connect the angles to the boards 10 and 11,ja nd a slot 17 through which the bolts 18 pass to-secure the angles to the cross bars 7 and 8. The ob'ect of the slot 17 is to provide means where y the position of the boards may beeasily adjusted toenable the machine totake boxes of different lengths. Secii'redonthe edges of the boards9 and 10 are two stationary canis- 21, 22, which cams areslottedto en'able'them to be adjusted to operate the folding plates later to be described at a different place in the belt travel to operate on boxes of difierent sizes. The cams are held in place by bolts 23, 24, passing'into the beltsupports 9 and 10.

Supported independently of said cams near them at each side of the machine are two L-shaped ,arms 25 which have bosses L 25, .and each boss has atube 26 extending therefrom through which the rods 27 slide. vEach rod-27hasa head 28 which is held against theend of the tube 26 ,by a coiled spring 29, and a small roller 30 is placedwith the cams 33, 34 placed on the edges of the belts 9 and 10 respectively. The position of these pushers remains fixed with respect to the length of the belts regardless of the other adjustments.

The belts 11 and 12 run over four pulleys 35, 38 inclusive on two shafts 39, 4O journalled in two slidable bearings 41, 42 and two fixed bearings 43, 44. Set screws 45 to 48 inclusive in the several pulley hubs enable the position of the pulley to be changed for boxes of different lengths. The belts 9 and 10 have a folding mechanism for the box side consisting of two plates 49, 50, mounted on a rod 51 and tube 52 respectively, with the rod extending into the tube for a greater distance than the full width of the belt 9. The rod has a depending arm 53, and the tube a similar depending arm 54, the object of which is to contact with the cams 21, 22 and press the plates 49, 50 down on the box side. The rod 51 and tube 52 are pivotally mounted in four small bearings 56 to 59 on the belts 9 and 10. The machine shown has two sets of folding plates 49, 50 and two sets of cams 33, 34, as will be seen on the under-side of the belts in Figures 2 to 4, so two boxes are folded with each complete turn of the belts. The number of folding mechanisms in any given machine will depend on the work the machine is called on to do, but may be increased if desired.

The bearings 41, 42 are slidable in two yokes 60, 61, secured to the posts 1 and 2, and said bearings may be adjusted in position to tighten the belts by turning up the screws 62, 63.

Over the belts 9 and 10 are two rollers 64, 65, adjustably mounted on. a shaft 66, journalled in the bearings 67 68. The bearings 67, 68 are secured on the posts 1 and 2 in such a position as to bring the rolls 64, close to the top of the belts 9 and 10.

The machine is driven by the pulley 69 on the shaft39 which shaft also carries a small grooved pulley 70 around which a crossed belt 71 passes to the pulley 72 on the shaft 66. An arm 73 pivoted on the side of the post 2 has a tightener pulley 74 hearing on the crossed belt 71. This tightener pulley is held against the belt by means of a screw 7 6 passing through an arm 75 on the post 2.

The operation of the folder is as follows:

Assuming a suitable feeding machine to place the boxes on the belts in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the belt will carry it along until it touches the rollers 64, 65 whereupon if the folding plates do not happen to be at hand the box will be detained until the folding plates catch up with the box, at which moment the arms 53, 54 will strike the cams 21 and 22 and cause the plates to press on the front side of the box the rollers 64, 65 holding the box back enough for the folding plates to act on it, but at the same time allowing it to pass ahead at the same speed as the belt is traveling. At the same moment the cams 33, 34 are pushing the small rollers 30 against the box from both ends thereby perfecting the fold along the forward edge of the box. It will be noted that the cams 33, 34 advance the rollers 30 at substantially the same rate of travel of the belts so they follow the box creases closely. During this same time the box is being pushed under the rollers 64, 65 and when it leaves those rollers the folding plate operating arms 53, 54 have left the cams 21, 22 and the box is free to drop off the end of the belt into any suitable receptacle, and because of the pressure exerted on it by the apparatus it will remain fiat enough for convenient packaging in bundles of 50. or 100 as desired.

The machine is adjusted for larger boxes by separating the belts slightly and at the same time separating the belt supports to correspond. If a wider box is to be used the cams 21, 22 are set to the right, Figures 1 and 2, more than they are now shown, whereby the folding plates will be pressed down at a greater distance from the flattening roll than as at present shown.

It is to be noted that as soon as the cams 33, 34 pass the pins 31 that the rollers 30 will be snapped back out of engagement with the box leaving it free to be completely flattened. that the arms 53, 54 do not leave the cams 21, 22 until the box is far enough under the rollers 64, 65 to prevent the plates from rising, as they will do normally because of the weight of the arms 53, 54, which are made heavy enough to accomplish this obgect.

Since some setting up machines deliver the boxes in a particular way it may be advisable in some cases to turn the belts to the position shown in Figure 6, the machine being otherwise substantially the same. In this figure one of the belts carrying the folding plates is shown; at passing over the floor 81. This floor has the cam 82 secured on its edge, and th fixed end folder arm 83 secured adjacent said cam. The two belts pass over pulleys 84, 85. The belts carry It will also be noticed l the folding plate 86 operated by the arm 87 substantially the same as in the previous form of'the invention. The belt is placed at an incline of about forty five degrees to receive the boxes on their bottoms, as they slide down another belt 88 extending at right angles to the first belt, and moving at we position to land bottom down on the belt 80. The belt 88 passes around two pulleys 91, 92, the former of which is close enough to the belt to hold the box down so it can pass under the belt 93 on the pulleys 94, '95 to be completely flattened, the roller 95 being held down on the belt 80 with such force as may be required to flatten the boxes as desired.

The rods 51. hold the belts in alignment in addition to the fact that they pass over pulleys of the same size.

WVhat I claim is as follows, but modifications may be made in carrying out the invention shown in the drawings and in the above particularly described form thereof, within the purview of the invention; I

1. A box collapsing machine comprising an endless belt, a flattening roller arranged closely over thebelt, a'flatt'ening plate'carried by the belt to collapse one side of the box and push it under the roller, means to press said plate against the box side and spring retracted means for pushing the box ends inwardly. 2. A box collapsing machine comprising an endless belt, a flattening roller over the belt, a flattening plate carried by the belt to collapse one side of the box and push it under the roll,means to press said plate against the box side, and means to push the box ends inwardly.

3. A box collapsing machine comprising an endless belt, a flattening roller over the belt, a flattening plate carried by the belt to collapse one side of the box and push it-under the roll, a pair of fixed brackets, slidable rods carried by said brackets to collapse the box ends, and means to push the rods against the box ends to collapse them.

4. A box collapsing machine comprising a belt, a presser roll thereover, a folding plate on the belt to collapse one side of a box, pushers at the sides of the belt to push the ends of the box in, and means on the belt to operate the pushers when the belt comes to the box collapsing position.

5. A box collapsing machine comprising a carrier, a presser roll thereover, a folding plate on the carrier to collapse one side of the box, cams for operating said plate at a given place in the travel of the carrier and means to collapse the ends of the box inwardly as it is carried under the presser roll.

6. A box collapsing machine comprising a carrier, a presser roll thereover, a folding plate on the carrier to collapse one side of the box, cams for operating said plate at a given point in the travel of the carrier and a pair of rollers to push in the box ends as the box passes under the presser roll.

7 A box collapsing machine, comprising a carrier, a folding plate to collapse one side of a box, means to operate said plate at agiven point in the travel of the carrier, box

flattening means, and means to collapse the ends'of the boxas it is passing under the flattening mechanism.

8. A box collapsing machine. comprising a doublecarrier, double plates carried thereby to flatten one side of a box, cams to operate said plates means to adjust the position of the carrier parts to enable the ma chine to take boxes of different lengths and means tocollapse the box ends inwardly as it is moving along.

9." A box collapsing machine, comprising a doubl carrier, double plates carried therebyrto flatten one side of a box, means to adjust 'the carrier to operate ondifferent length boxes a box flattening roll under which the'boxes pass and means to collapse the box ends when the box is passing under the flattening roll.

10. Ina box collapsing machine, a carrier,

means 'over the carrier to finally flatten a box, means on the carrier to flatten one side of the box as it is carried'to the final flattening means, and means at the sides of the carrier to push the ends of the box inwardly.

11-. Ina box collapsing machine a double carrier, 'b'ox flattening .means over the carrierfmeans on the carrier adjustable therewith to flatten different length boxes, fixed means to operate the latter flattening mechanism, stationary pushers to collapse the box ends inwardly, and cams on the carriers to operate said pushers.

12. A carrier, means on the carrier to 1 collapse one side of a box, cams on the frame to operate said side collapsing means, means at the side of the carrier to collapse the ends of the box, means on the carrier to operate the end collapsing means and means over the carrier to completely flatten the box as it is carried along.

18. A box collapsing machine, comprising a carrier, pivoted means on the carrier to collapse one side of the box, slidable bars at the side of'the carrier to collapse the ends of thebox, and a roller under which the box is carried to be completely flattened.

1a. A box collapsing machine, comprising a double carrier, an adjustable box-side collapsing mechanism on the carrier, means at the sides of the carrier to push the ends of a box inwardly, and an 1 adjustable double roller under which the carrier takes the box to completely flatten it.

15. A box collapsing machine, comprising a carrier, double plates on the carrier to collapse one side of the box, spring retracted movable bars at the edges of the carrier to collapse the box ends, and a roller under which the carrier takes'the box to be completely flattened.

, 16. A double carrier, means to adjust the position of the parts of the carrier, adjustable box-s'ide folding mechanism supported thereby, means to fold the opposite ends of the box inwardly, and aroll under which the box is taken by the carrier to completely flatten it.

17. An endless carrier, folding plates pivotally mounted thereon to collapse one side of the box, movable bars at the sides of the carrier to collapse the two ends of the box inwardly, means on the carrier to operate said bars ata given point in the travel of the carrier, and a roller under which the carrier takes the box to completely flatten it. 18. A box folding machine, comprising an endless carrier, a pivoted box side folding plate supported thereon, adjustable slides for collapsing the ends of the box inwardly, means on the carrier to operate said slides, and a flattening mechanism under which the carrier takes the box to completely flatten it. 19. A box folding machine, comprising a carrier, a frame to support the carrier, box side folding plates on the carrier, cams on the frame to operate said plates at a given point in the movement of the carrier, means to collapse the two ends of the box shortly after the first mechanism is operated, and means to completely flatten the box after the sides and ends have been collapsed.

20. A box collapsing machine, comprising an endless carrier, laterally adjustable plates carried thereby to collapse one side of a box, adjustable cams on the carrier support to operate the folding plates at given point in the travel of the carrier, means at the side of the carrier to collapse the two ends of the box, and a roll under which the carrier takes the box to completely flatten it.

21. A box collapsing machine, comprising a pair of adjustable carriers movable side by side, a pair of plates supported by the carriers adjustable to collapse'one side of longer or shorter boxes, means at the sides of the carrier to collapse the two ends of the box inwardly, means on the carrier to operate the latter mechanism, and a roller under which the carrier takes the box to completely flatten it.

22. In a box collapsing machine, a box carrier, means on the carrier to collapse one side of the box, means at the opposite sides of the carrier to collapse the box ends, and {)neans to thereafter completely flatten the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of December,

A. D. 1922. V V

RAOUL J. GRUENBERG. 

